AUDIO: Warning as woman calls 999 to ask for advice about broken egg

Broken eggs, a dead fox and someone who wanted us to make them breakfast are some of the inappropriate 999 calls our emergency call handlers have taken in the last six months.

East Midlands Ambulance Service answer over 2,500 999 calls every day from people requiring emergency medical assistance for cardiac arrests, strokes, breathing difficulties and serious injuries.

Make the right 999 call

However, some of the 999 calls received are not for emergency situations and when one of the call handlers is on the phone to these inappropriate calls, they are not able to help someone in a real emergency.

Recent inappropriate calls have included someone with a broken toenail, someone who wanted a taxi home and a patient waiting to be seen at a GP surgery, but who didn’t want to wait the 30 minutes for their appointment.

Simon Tomlinson, General Manager of the Emergency Operations Centres, would like to remind people to only dial 999 in the event of a serious emergency.

He is also urging people to remember that there are other options available, such as calling NHS 111, contact their GP or a pharmacist or visit an NHS Walk in Centre.

He said: “When you call 999 because someone is unconscious, not breathing, having chest pains or has the symptoms of a stroke, you are making the right call.

“Our emergency call handlers are trained to deliver life-saving instructions over the phone and we will get help to you as quickly as possible.

“Every 999 call is assessed so that the right help is provided to the right people as quickly as possible.

“You could receive the right treatment for you more quickly by contacting an alternative NHS service, such as your local pharmacy or NHS111, particularly if your call is not a serious emergency.

“Please help us to make sure we can reach the people who need us the most.”

10 inappropriate 999 calls received by EMAS

1.Person pouring milk over their body – as part of an art installation